THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN HARVEST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume IX, Issue 2521, 23 February 1872, Page 3

THE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN HARVEST.

Tuc Adelaide Observer having published a suri i s .1 the harvest supplied by its special correspondent in the principle graingrowing districts, has since giving a summary of the results. In analysing these reports, it is discovered that the crops in the north—the most recently-settled porLion of the colony— have been the worse. Red rust, locusts, and other dcst.ruetive agents have so reduced the yield there (hat the return has range ! from three to six bushels per acre. Yorke'a Peninsular shows an improvement on this, but the yiold is still much below that of last year, Hi bushels. The Uulnare, Brougliton, and Belalie areas have also fallen lamentably short of their promise, but many of the farmers will save from seven to eight bushels. The country around Clare, which in 1870 produced its 14 bushels, will in 1871 only furnish from four to five, The fertile Valley of the Gilbert, Saddleworth, Waterloo, and Black Springs are credited with from five to 6ix bushels, and these districts bo it remembered, embrace from 50,000 to 60,000 acres of primo agricultural land. Nearer homo there is less cause for complaint. Between Kapunda, which is set down at the moderate average of six and a-half bushels, and Adelaide, there are scores of square miles of wheat land which will yield from seven to eight bushels, a low mean truly, but high in compulsion with the newly settled areas northwards. The growers in the Bouth, the east and north-east arc congratulated on a yield of eight to ten bushels in 1871-2, this beiug good in comparison with the almost total losses suffered when the north had its turn of good crops. In the south-cast tho beat returns have been experienced. They range from 12 to 15 bushels, but tho general average iB governed by the results in (lie north, the extent under culture there being large. The Observer, iu examining the reports, arrives at tho following conclusions : —That there will be an increased area under wheat of about 100,000 acres, and that the gross produeo will be about 5,000,003 bushels. Tho excess of acreage in 1870 over 1860 was 72,000 acres, and considering the impulse that the present Land Aer, amended as it has been, has given to selection and tillage, we believe the larger increase set down for 1871 will be found fully warranted by the facts. UnfortuI nately the yield from much of the land newly broken up will not be large— Bfty from six to I eight bushels, but it is not too much to expect

thai the 700,000 acres under crop will produce the aggregate of 5,000,000 bushels. This will give an average cf rather over seven bushels to the acre, being four bushels and a half less than last year, and an increase of close upon two bushels over (lie yield for 1869. As regards the surplus available for shipment, it is suggested that of the 5,000,000 bushels forming the probable yield of last harvest, 1,110,000 will represent the honie consumption, and 1,200,000 for seed for SOO,OOO acres. Ihis will leave 2,690.000 bushels, or close upon 60,000 tons ot Hour, for export. Adding to this the 13,000 tons of old stock remaining on hand at the en 1 of last year, the bread' stuils to be sent a way during 1572 will amount to <3,000 tons, against 115,000 ton* the previous year. It is justly observed tlia., considering the necrotics of Europe, the quantity available should be easily disposed of.